A gift from Pakistan to Karbala pilgrims.

Byline: Faiza Ilyas

KARACHI -- As millions of pilgrims gather in Iraq's holy city of Karbala today to commemorate Arbaeen, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Husain, the staff at a Malir farm located far away from Karachi's chaotic traffic is filled with unusual excitement.

'We are eagerly waiting for our departure on 28th of this month via Iran to Iraq's city of Najaf where we plan to plant 48,000 young trees/plants in the first instalment,' Mohammedi S. Darbar tells Dawn as he takes this writer around his farm located on the main Damlotee Road in Malir.

These carefully chosen trees and plants would gain more height and provide shade next year and facilitate the pilgrims, he added.

At the age of 85, Darbar Sahib as he was lovingly called by his friends, is actively engaged in business and farming. The latter he has been doing out of his love for nature for many years.

Sharing how he got and processed the idea of tree plantation at the official level in Najaf, he said that hundreds and thousands of pilgrims arrived in Karbala to commemorate Arbaeen after walking about 80 kilometres from the holy city of Najaf, many of them barefoot, in a symbolic gesture of honouring Imam Husain.

Malir farmer intends to plant thousands of young trees in Iraq's holy cities as a labour of love

'Najaf has a hot desert climate with long and very hot summers and mild winters. I believe it's an honour to facilitate the pilgrims in any way,' he said.

The young trees/plants being looked after at the farm for plantation in Najaf included neem, gulmohar, moringa, Tikoma, Tubukia, peepal, keekar, shesham and Sumbul.

A special trailer truck is being prepared to carry these trees to Najaf through Iran by road. The entire cost would be borne by...